Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-03-19
RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.

A Gritty soutIaeFn yVsEng-s- WHO Sold Cot
ton at 81 {, Eouna in Memphis.
aThe war came on and soon after the
first gun was fred, said the lady block
sde runner to a reporter of the Athens,
/ Georgia, Banner Waterman, tiny hus-
band took sick and died, and left me
alone with a large humber of negroes
and big cotton crop to cultivate.
did not despair, but went to work and
had the cotton crop cultivated and gath
cred. About this time the Yankees cap
tured Memphis and came down into De
Soto and took of all my negroes. I
concluded that it was best for me- TO
come back to Georgia and make my
home with my father. So, leaving all
my cotton packed up under the ginhOuses
I left for the old red hills of Georgia.
After being at home for several months,
/ 1 heard that cotton was worth 81
[ pound in Memphis in greenbacks, and
1 informed my father that I intended to
return TO Mississippi and run the block
ade into Memphis with the cotton, and
/ bring out things foT the family aud the
! southern soldiers. My father tried to
/ persuade l1e not to undertake it, as I
might get into trOable from both sides,
as the confedsrates would arrest me for
/ carrying cotton into Memphis, and the
/ Yankees would send me to some of the
northern prisons for bringing contra
/ band goods to the south. 1 did not heed
his warnings. and two weeks later
found me In De Soto county, Mississippi,
with par OF oxen hitched to a wagon
and two bales of cotton on it ready, with
a crowd of other ladies, TO run the block
ade. 1t was a perilOus undertaking, as
/ General n. B. Forrest. with his gallant
command, was making frequent raids
around Memphis. and any one
caught smuggling IN cotton was arrested
and had his property cOnhscated. This
did not deter me, and together with
party of nice ladies, who could have
counted their wealth by the millions be-
fore the war, started with a little boy
seated ON top Of the wagon, driving.
Our first trip we made without meeting
any Of General Forests or General Van
D0n's command, and safely arrived at
the picket post of the Yankees. They
did not interfere, as they were only too
anxious to get all the cotton they could.
Arriving in Memphis, we readily sold
our cotton for one dollar pound, and I
found, after selling, that had over $500
in greenbacks. We did not know much
about the money or it's value, but found
that one dollar would buy great deal
more in Memphis than the confederate
money in the south. I purchased a
large lot Of goods and medicines that I
knew the southern soldiers needed, and
concealed them about my persOn or Gov
cred them up In the wagon. bought
a splendid pair OF cavalry boots for my
brother, who was then in the confederate
service, but the trouble with me was how
to get them through the Yankee lines,
as 1 knew they were cOntraband and
would be coniscated. I put the boots
on over my shoes, and brought them
through without being detected. I ran
the blockade after the first trip several
times and disposed Of all my cotton at
big price and brought large quantities Of
things needed by the confsderate gov
eminent through the Yankee lines. 1
had great many narrow escapes while
running the blockade, but L always
managed to come cut safe, and am now
willing TO 1--we a quiet life for the re-
mainder Of my days"